Panama City, Panama, February 18, 2025 – Vessel traffic through the Panama Canal rebounded significantly in January, with data showing an almost 50% year-on-year increase.
Eased weather conditions and improved draught levels have contributed to a recovery in transits, as 632 commercial vessels passed through the strategic waterway daily, bringing the total to 9,377 for January 2024-25.
The recovery was marked by notable increases across several vessel categories. Container ship traffic rose 15%, while liquid bulk cargo vessels increased by 50% to 221 transits. Dry breakbulk cargo shipments saw a surge of 205%, reaching 162 transits. In contrast, LNG traffic declined slightly by 2%, with 11 LNG ships recorded—a downturn linked to shifting energy supply patterns following Europe’s pivot toward US LNG amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Despite these gains, overall vessel traffic remains below the 2019–2022 average, as the canal continues to navigate challenges posed by climate-related fluctuations in water levels.
The canal, which serves as a vital link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and ranks as the world’s second largest trade route with over 10,000 annual transits, remains predominantly used by the United States, accounting for 52% of ship traffic. Other major users include China - handling roughly a quarter of US cargo - along with Chile, Japan, and South Korea.
In a separate development, former US President Donald Trump made headlines by suggesting that the United States might consider reclaiming control of the canal. During a press conference, Trump remarked, “We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and Panama has been ripping down all the Chinese language signs,” adding that the US should take action. His comments come amid broader discussions about Chinese influence in global trade routes, although the Panama Canal has been under Panamanian control since 1999 following a series of agreements that transferred US operational rights over the years.
Originally constructed under the Roosevelt administration and operated by the United States until a joint management arrangement began in 1977, the canal was fully handed over to Panama in 1999. Trump’s remarks have sparked controversy, as the canal’s governance and sovereignty are well established under Panamanian law.
As the canal’s vessel traffic continues to recover, analysts note that while weather-related challenges are easing, the long-term impact of climate change on canal operations remains a key concern for global trade stakeholders.
President Donald Trump declared that the United States will "always be there" for NATO, emphasising the importance of the alliance in countering globa...
Azerbaijan is set to deliver a new consignment of oil products to Armenia on 8 January, with shipments departing from the Guzdak railway station and t...
Azerbaijan and Syria have reached an agreement to establish a joint business council aimed at enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two...
Snow and ice caused travel chaos in northwest Europe on Wednesday, while others were delighted by the snow-covered streets of Paris, venturing out on ...
The U.S. has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that had been followed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, following a more than two-week-long pursu...
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino on Monday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to safeguarding global trade and marine resources, warning that criminal networks would not be allowed to exploit Panama’s ship registry or maritime routes.
U.S. President Trump says American ships should transit the Panama and Suez Canals without charge, renewing calls to assert U.S. control over strategic waterways.
The U.S. military is reviewing options to ensure American access to the Panama Canal, two officials told Reuters on Thursday, as President Donald Trump continues to push for greater U.S. control over the strategic waterway.
A senior U.S. military commander is visiting Panama this week to discuss security cooperation, migration, and the Panama Canal, the U.S. embassy confirmed Wednesday.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
President Donald Trump declared that the United States will "always be there" for NATO, emphasising the importance of the alliance in countering global threats. In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated that Russia and China only feared NATO as long as the U.S. remained a member.
The U.S. has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that had been followed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, following a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" on Venezuelan oil exports, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to advance EU membership discussions and secure stricter sanctions on Russia during a meeting on Wednesday as Cyprus took over the European Union's rotating presidency.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Türkiye is considering draft legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from opening social-media accounts, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş has said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment